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RAUL ANDUAGA
Raul Anduaga, 13, of Redwood Falls died on Saturday, December 29, 2001 as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident at 2:00 in the morning. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday afternoon from St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Redwood Falls with burial at a later date. The Nelson-Martin Funeral Home in Redwood Falls handled the arrangements.
Raul Anduaga was born Febuary 20, 1988 in Piedras Negras, mexico, the son of Juan and Delfina (De La Garza) Anduaga. At the age of four, he moved with his family to Minnesota and lived in Willmar, Melrose, and Brooten before moving to Redwood Falls. Raul attended elementary School in Willmare and currently was in the seventh grade at Redwood Valley Middle School. Raul delivered papers in Redwood Falls and also babysat for his family. he enjoyed spending time with his niece and nephew and was always thinking of other people. Raul just passed hid snowmobile license training. He played basketball at Redwoo Valley, enjoyed art, drawing, playing games, Play Station and going to the movies with his friends. Raul was a friend to many and will sadly be missed.
Raul is survived by his mother Delfina De La Garza; a brother Juan Anduaga and a special friend Tosha Litzau, sister Tere Omtvedt and husband Chris, and a brother Hugo De La Garza all of Redwood Falls; and his grandmother Evangelina Barrera of Piedras Negras, Mexico.
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REMEMBERING RAUL
Ask anyone young or old what they remember most about 13-year-old Raul Anduaga and the response is the same-his smile.
It was the infectious kind of smile that made others around him happier, because they knew when Raul smiled it was genuine. The 13-year-old boy from Redwood Falls, who had his life cut short by a Dec. 29 car crash, was known and loved by family, friends and others who learned not olny to really appreciate the life he lived.
"He was a great kid," said Barb Darr, one of his Redwood Valley Middle School seventh grade teachers, "He was always very polite, and was so appreciative of things people would do for him."
Darr recalled on several ocassions that Raul would stay after class and she would drive him home from school.
"From the time we walked out of the door until the time I dropped him off at home, he would continue saying thank you to me," she said. "He was respectful to the kids as well as to me."
His other teachers, Charlie Gruman, Shawn Cilek and Tom Jacobsen said the same thing about the student they has gotten to know since last September.
"He was a quiet kid, said Jacobsen. "Last quarter when we talked about Mexico, and though, he has a lot of stuff to share with the class."
Raul was born in Piedras Negras, Mexico, and at home his family spoke Spanish.
Despite the language and cultural differences, Raul seemed to fit in well with the other students.
Cilek and Gruman both added that Raul worked hard in the classroom, and they often heard him mulling things over under his breath in Spanish, and that was okay, because they knew that he was trying his best to understand.
"When you saw Raul, you noticed that twinkle he had in his eye," said Darr."It wasn't a devilish twinkle, but a pleasant one that seemed to tell those around him that life was okay."
Of the teachers at RVMS, Annee Warner, his homebase teacher, probably had the chance to get to know him the best.
"I had gotten to know Raul since he was in fifth grade," she said. "In Homebase, he was always willing to volunteer to play a game. He stepped up and became good role model for other students."
Warner added there are difficult times for teachers when they see students pass away.
"This was the first time in 21 years as a teacher that I have had a current student die," she said "You look at the class lists and see his name right at the top. You look at his seat and he's not ther. It really doesn't affect you."
Warner said a tree will be planted this spring in the school's Enivironmental Learning Center in memory of Raul.
That was, she said, friends and others who knew him will have a place to keep coming back to remember Raul.
Ashley Cardenas, Maggie Salinas, Chad Ridnener, Chris LaRoche, and Cailtlin Pendelton are some of Raul's firneds one can expect to see around the tree from time to time.
His friends remember him as a good friend, a dependable friend who like to playing basketball and football and with his Sony Play Station. They also sais Raul enjoyed drawing and going to his art classes.
"He was always happy," said Cardenas. "He always knew how to make everyone feel good."
RVMS Principal Jeff Scherber added he had gotten to know Raul.
"In my experience where I see a lot of kids, there are some of them who stick out in your mind," said Scherber. "Raul was one of them. He was very likable and he never caused any trouble. He was easy to get to know."
There are those in each of our lives that we get to know and come to love, and losing when in the way Raul was lost becomes difficult to bear.
The world for those who knew Raul won't be the same.
yes, when we losed a loved one, we wish the world would stop for just a little while to recognize who they were and what they did.
Yet, there is an assurance that was celebrated at his funeral on Friday that there will be a Friday that there will be a day in the future, when those who miss Raul will see his smiling face on the other side.
Adios Raul.
Until we see you again.
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NICK NELSON
Nick Nelson died this past fall in his father's arms. From a gun shot wound. We all miss him so much.
9/11 The terrist attacks killed many people. Many families are short a few of family members. We remember all of those who have passed away in the Twin Towers and in the airplanes. 
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